O'Sullivan bides time over star centres

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan will wait until the last possible moment before ruling either Brian O’Driscoll or Gordon D’Arcy out of the RBS 6 Nations Championship clash with Scotland.

The midfield duo, who both sustained hamstring injuries in the 28-17 opening win over Italy, were today tentatively named in O’Sullivan’s starting XV for Saturday’s Murrayfield meeting – but the pair’s participation remains shrouded in doubt.

“Brian and Gordon came through their scans last night, and it looks as if things aren’t as bad as we originally thought,” said O’Sullivan.

“There is no doubting as to how important their fitness is to us. We’ll just have to wait and see how they progress over the next few days, and then we’ll be in a position to make a decision.”

D’Arcy is battling a groin injury, while O’Driscoll limped off against Italy with a hamstring injury.

The Leinster centres have become vital to the Irish cause since D’Arcy’s international return 12 months ago.

Back then, D’Arcy started in place of O’Driscoll in a 35-17 loss to France in the 2004 Six Nations opener.

Alongside goal-kicking hero Ronan O’Gara, they have become the fulcrum of O’Sullivan’s much-heralded back line.

The coach can scarcely afford to be without one of them, let alone his mercurial midfield tandem.

D’Arcy, who turns 25 on Thursday, has been worryingly prone to injuries of late – so much so that Sunday’s visit to the Stadio Flaminio marked only his sixth start for province and country this season.

“It’s a setback for Gordon, for sure,” added O’Sullivan.

“He was coming back into form after being out with his groin injury, but I’m not about to pull the trigger just yet.

“The Italian match was just two days ago, so with a six-day turnaround for the Scotland trip you have to give the guys every chance to fully recover. I would be a foolish man to rule them out right now if they can make it.”

Ulster centre Kevin Maggs and Leinster’s Shane Horgan wait in the wings.

O’Sullivan’s only change for the Scotland clash sees Wasps flanker Johnny O’Connor recalled for a third outing.

He replaces misfiring Munster openside Denis Leamy, who was outgunned by Mauro Bergamasco, but it seems the coach is just returning to a “horses-for-courses” selection policy.

“I had always had Johnny in mind for Scotland. We need a ‘groundhog’, and Johnny is exactly that. Denis had a solid game against Italy – but he didn’t make the impact he would have liked to,” said O’Sullivan.